Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Salesville, Arkansas 72653
Tuesady, July 15, 2008 9:26 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot flew to an off-airport location to pick up an electrical company employee. After being on the ground about eight minutes, the pilot and passenger then flew power line patrol looking for vegetation encroachment. One hour and 36 minutes after taking off one of the helicopter's main rotor blades impacted the middle strand of a crossing high voltage transmission line. The helicopter was destroyed by impact forces and postimpact fire. The impacted transmission line was approximately 100 feet above and crossed perpendicularly to the transmission line they were following. Examination of the helicopter wreckage revealed no preexisting anomalies that would have contributed to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the crossing transmission line.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/15/2008
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 926
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Salesville
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72653
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 361438N
Event Location Longitude 0921425W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KBPK
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.11
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25012
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jul 15 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 9 2009 5:16PM
User who most recently changed record dinc
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Little Rock

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N469E
NTSB Number DEN08FA122
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name HUGHES
Aircraft Model 269B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 45-0186
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 24 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1800
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Ozark Mountain Helicopters, LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3511 Silverside Road, Ste 105
Aircraft Owner City Wilmington
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19810
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Ozark Mountain Helicopters, LLC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 3511 Silverside Road, Ste 105
Operator City Wilmington
Operator State DE
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 19810
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Observation
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code NA
Departure City Willow Springs
Departure State MO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 748
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 26 2009 12:57PM
User who most recently changed record bakd
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --